THE boy is back in town! Pride of Teesside James Arthur made an early hours return home ahead of a hectic day, culminating in a gig at Middlesbrough town hall.

Just hours after helping other X Factor finalists switch on the Downing Street Christmas lights last night, James headed north and on arriving, proclaimed: “It’s good to be home - just to hear the accent again.”

He added: “I can’t believe the support I've had and I’m so looking forward to a parmo and a pint!”

The concert at Middlesbrough’s town hall will mark the end of his time in Teesside before Saturday’s final. The warm-up for the gig starts at 6pm outside the town hall before the concert at 8pm.

Hundred of fans yesterday braved the icy weather to get their hand on tickets for the Middlesbrough gig.

The queue stretched around Middlesbrough Town Hall yesterday with some people standing in line for nearly four hours before the free tickets were available at noon.

First in the queue were Zoe Knowles and Emma Bradshaw who were ecstatic at getting their hands on tickets for the town hall concert.

Zoe, 18, a student at Middlesbrough College, said: “We got here at 8.30am to get tickets. We are massive fans of James. We love him.”

Emma, 19, from Saltersgill, said: “We are so excited about the gig - we can’t wait.”

Zoe added: “We are so excited about seeing him and Nicole. It is going to be amazing.”

Also at the front were Donna Bache and Nicola Hodds who were queuing to get tickets for themselves and their children.

Donna, 43, from Middlesbrough, said: “James is the best X Factor contestant the show has ever had. It is going to be really good.”

Abbi Leng, Holly Gelder and Scarlett McFaull were excited about the night.

Abbi, 16, a Middlesbrough College student, said: “We love James and Nicole - it is going to be amazing.

“He is from the area and he is doing us proud.”

Singer caught up in comic row

TEESSIDE’S James Arthur became embroiled in a war of words with controversial comedian Frankie Boyle on social networking site Twitter.

James clashed with the comic when Boyle, inset, tweeted that he looked like a “cross between a tramp and a duckling”.

The 24-year-old responded tweeting that making poor jokes is the only way Boyle can get attention.

Boyle then retaliated saying: “I think if I wanted attention I’d sing covers on a talent show, inked up like a schooldesk in remedial class.”